Hundreds of migrants from Haiti arrived in a wooden boat off shore of an exclusive gated community in north Key Largo Sunday afternoon, according to authorities.
Initial reports estimate between 150 and 200 people were on board the vessel when it stopped in the shallow water off Ocean Reef Club after 1 p.m., said Adam Linhardt, spokesman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
More than a hundred people on the boat swam to shore moments after the vessel grounded, with some needing medical assistance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Agent Walter N. Slosar said Sunday night via Twitter.
Calling it a human smuggling event, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a tweet that an investigation remains ongoing.https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NwYWNlX2NhcmQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib2ZmIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1500576724525985796&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fmore-150-haitian-migrants-land-211142202.html&sessionId=4a1d8414ab138e7fb616f2dde5028c18b17e745e&siteScreenName=YahooNews&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2582c61%3A1645036219416&width=550px
#HappeningNow @USCG crews are responding to a suspected migrant venture off #OceanReef. The vessel is aground w/ #CoastGuard & partner agency rescue crews on scene. Updates will happen as more info. becomes available. @mcsonews @MiamiDadeFire @MyFWC @BiscayneNPS @CBPAMORegDirSE pic.twitter.com/D0uF712KMt
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) March 6, 2022
Law enforcement sources say it doesn’t appear any of the people who arrived are in need of serious medical attention.
